04.4b

“Author Norman Mailer Sounds Off against Bush, War in Iraq.” Article-interview by Sheri McWhirter. (Alton, Ill) Telegraph, 22 April, C1. A second report on Mailer’s 20 April speech at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. After the 9-11 attacks on the U.S., Americans, Mailer said, had to ask themselves why they were so hated in other parts of the world, and question our fundamental identity. “We had to overcome our identity crisis,” he said. “Hell, we had to overpower it—wave a flag. We don’t need compulsive, self-serving patriotism. It’s odious.” Speaking of Iraq, he said, “You can’t bring democracy to tyranny by conquest. Democracy must come from within.” See 04.4a.